Stats

Lifespan: 4-6 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate woodland
Range: North America
Movement: Climbing
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Uncommon

About

A sun-loving spiny lizard of the Colorado Plateau's rocky pinyon-juniper country, males flashing bright blue belly patches during territorial push-up displays. It relies on rough bark and boulder crevices for near-instant camouflage from predators.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling
A miniature reptile emerges from its egg already independent.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile sheds and grows, often duller-colored than adults.
3.
adult
Fully grown with adult size and coloration.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Sceloporus
Species: Sceloporus tristichus